Shock-absorbing device.



R. HERMAN.

SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE.

' APPLlcATloN man wmv/10.1913.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

GRM/naw @VH1/wow@ REINHOIID HERMAN, OF'PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOCK-ABSORBING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 5, i915.

Application led May 10, 1913. Serial No. 766,835.

To allvwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Grafton Station, Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing devices,` and more particularly to devices controlled by fiuidpres` sure, the device being of the general type therefore, the provision of a construction,

capable of bein employed in various connections for s ook absorbing purposes, which is simple and eflicient in operatlon, durable in construction, which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, and which can be readily installed with a minimum amount of labor.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood, as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views:-

to the chassis and the aXle of an automobile.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a shock absorbing device according to the present invention, the same being shown as applied draft-rigging in cars.

The present invention, like that set forth in my prior application above identified.l embodies two elements movable relatively to each other on a common axis, these two elements combinedly providing two inde-y pendent Huid-receiving chambers, each Chamber having an independent controllable .equally suiicient in all cases.

iiuid inlet, thereby enabling th'e chambers to be given iuid pressures which may or may not be equal as may be found desirable. Each element moves as a unit relative to the other,rand since each chamber is entirely free from connection with the other, any movement of .one element relative to the other will vary the pressures in both chambers, one being increased and the other'decreased, the recoil or return of the elements to normal position restoring the normal pressures. Since the variations from the normal pressure increase proportionately to the degree'of shock, the shock absorption is In similar manner, the cushion of the recoil is provided by these variations, the greater the variations from the normal, the greater the initial movement on the return, such return movementv decreasingA in correspondence withthe return of the pressures to their normal state. Since the cushioning of the recoil is not dependent upon the pressures themselves, but upon the variations of these pressures from the normal, it will be readily understood that the pressures within the chambers themselves may be relatively high so as to suit the conditions under which the device is being employed. Y

In the structure of the prior application, one of the elements was 1n the form of a casing having an imperforate diaphragm, the other element being provided by two pistons connected together externally and having opposing ends facing the diaphragm, the ends ofthe pistons and the diaphragm forming the opposing walls of the two chambers.

In the present invention, have connected the pistons and formed a single structure of-V them so asto provide the combined piston as aninternal element, thus placing two chambers at the opposite ends of the casing and. dispensing with the imperforate diaphragm.

In the drawings, 10 designates the casing formed in two sections, each section having -its outer end closed as at 11, the inner ends being formed with flanges 12 which are adapted to oppose each other and through which suitable securing devices, such as bolts 13, are adapted to be passed for the purpose of securing the sections together. Opposite side walls of each section are recessed so that when the sections are joined, an elongated opening 14 is provided, said opening being of suitable length and located approximately mid-Way the length of the casing, said openings being adapted toprovide passage-way for the supporting member of the piston, said supporting member being of suitable -form and preferably, a shaft or pin 15 having its ends projecting outwardly beyond the outer face of the casing, said projecting ends being adapted to receive the members which connect the piston and a fixed part of the structure to which the device is applied as presently described.

The piston 16 is generally of a cross-sectional surface configuration corresponding to that of the inner surface of the casing, and is formed with a central opening 17 for the shaftor pin "15, the opposite ends of the piston being preferably formed with extensions 18 Yexternally threaded by means of which'a suitable cup 19 ma be secured in position at the ends of the piston. The piston is of a length such that its movements longitudinally of the casing will not expose the contacting portions of the cups within the openings 14, this being necessary in order that the pressures which may be provided within thechambers formed between the ends of the piston and the ends of the casing will not be dissipated by leakage through said openings.

The o posing ends of the casing are provided with fluid inlet ports 20, these ports being individual for and leading to the chambers, these ports being controllable so as to permit of the admission of the fluid to provide any desirable pressure, such admitted fluid acting to float the piston.

To provide for a maximum amount of fluid within the chambers and at the same time eliminate the requirement for a construction of large size, I preferably form the piston hollow and provide suitable webs, as at 16a, which separate the interior of the opposite ends of the piston from each other s6 as to prevent-transference of fluid from one chamber to the other through the piston, the extensions 18 having an opening 21 affording communication between a chamber and the interior lof the piston. construction enables the use of a larger amount of fluid in connection with a relatively small chamber and provides for what may be termed a somewhat softer action without affecting the effect, it being readily understood that any variation` in pressure from the normal in eitherchamber is similar both in the chamber and on the interior of the piston. A further advantagc` in this respect lies in the fact that this equalizing of pressure in the piston and the chamber provides for an equalized supportl to the "walls of the y'piston which would be affected by the shocks, thus enabling the use of a relatively light piston and decreasing the weight ofl this element to a material degree.

This particular To prevent the entrance of dust into the interior of the device, any suitable dust cap or guard construction may be employed, a preferred form being shown in the drawings by the use of a plate 22 carried by the shaft or pin 15 and extending over the opening 14T. It will' be readily understood that the pressures in the two chambers may be controlled at will, it being the purpose to employ la compressible fluid, such Vfor instance as air, the pressures being equal orl unequal as may be desired. For instance, if the device be employed in connection with an automobile, in which the casing is mounted in a suitable support 25carried by the axle 26, while the pin or shaft 15 is connected to the chassis or other part of the frame which may move relatively to the axle, by means of connections 27, the movements provided'by shocks, etc., of the automobile in traveling, etc., will be communicated to the piston br the casing, as the case may be, to provide` a relative movement therebetween dependent upon the direction in which the shock is applied, the cushion within the path of such movement having its pressure increased and the other cushion having it decreased. As

soon as the shock action is spent, the cushions will tend to restore the/parts to normal condition, the cushion in which the pressure was increased tending to move the parts in the reverse direction, such movement however, not being with entire freedom, by reason of the presence of the cushion at the opposite end of the casing, the result being As will be readily understood, thecon-` struction is exceedingly simple and can be manufactured at a relatively low cost; also that it is controllable at will by the user by varying the pressures of the respective chambers. ceedingly compact, being formed of comparatively' few parts, and these are of relatively light weight.

While I have herein shownV and described one wav in which mv invention may be carried into effect, it will be readily understood that changes or modifications therein may be' required or desired to meetV the-exigencies of use, and I desire it tov be understoodthat I reserve the right to make any and al1 such changes and modifications as may be Furthermore, the device is exfound necessary or desirable in so far as the same may fall Within the scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as neW and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In shock absorbing devices, a casing adapted to be secured to one part of a Vehicle, a piston mounted therein and movable relative to the casing, said piston having chambers in itsy ends, said chambers each having an opening communicating with the respective end of the casing, and means connected to the piston and adapted for connection to a second part of a vehicle movable relative to the part connected to the casing.

2. In shock absorbing devices, a casing having closed ends and oppositely disposed side openings, said casing being adapted for connection to one part of a vehicle, a piston movable in said casing and provided with chambers at its opposite ends, said chambers having openings communicating With the respective ends of the casing and surrounded by flanges extending toward said ends, packings carried by said flanges, and means connected with said piston through the openings in the casing and adapted for connection to a second part of the vehicle movable relative to the first. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

REIN HOLD HERMAN. Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, M. E. LoWRY. 

